Your Frugal Freezer!

**Sara Noel** · 06-03-2004, 10:17 AM

When you're trying to make those grocery dollars stretch as far as possible, a home freezer can truly be your budget's best friend!

We all probably realize that extra beef, chicken, etc. can be kept for long periods of time in the freezer; and also that surplus produce from the garden can be preserved easily in the freezer.

I have researched and found some items which can be frozen that some people may not be aware of. And some uses for the freezer that are a little unusual, too.

Remember to wrap foods with foil or store in airtight containers or zipper bags. Air is the cause of freezer burn. Even bread needs to be double-bagged, as bread wrappers are not airtight.

Dairy products are one thing that you may not realize can be frozen. When you find milk, eggs, butter or cheese at a really good price, you CAN stock up!

Freeze milk in the carton and thaw in refrigerator. Stir or shake before serving.

Butter can be kept for 6 months in its original wrapper in the freezer. Thaw in fridge before using.

You might want to pack cheese in a zipper-top freezer bag before freezing. Shredded cheese can be added to recipes without thawing.

Eggs take a little more preparation. Mix 1 cup of raw eggs with 1 teaspoon salt. Store in an airtight freezer container. When needed, let thaw overnight in refrigerator. For 1 egg, use about 3 tablespoons of mixture.

If you store your brown sugar in the freezer, it will not harden.

Nuts, shelled or unshelled, retain their freshness when kept in the freezer.

Honey will not crystallize if it is stored in the freezer. It does not freeze solid. Let thaw at room temperature.

Keep marshmallows in the freezer to keep them from turning hard.

To have "fresh" herbs all winter long, put chopped herbs in ice cube trays, fill with water and freeze. When needed, pop a cube out.

Lemons, limes, and oranges can be frozen whole. When a recipe calls for juice, just defrost as many as you need in the microwave.

Here's a good one: after using, store your soapy steel wool pad in the freezer and it won't rust. Just remove from the freezer while you're cooking supper and it will be ready to use when you do the dishes.

Store your popcorn in your freezer. Pop while it's still frozen and it will pop lighter with fewer unpopped kernels.

If your freezer is not full, it will run more efficiently if you fill up the empty spaces with jugs of water.

Your freezer "can" be your friend if you use it to its full capacity.

Cyndi Roberts' website, "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" will show you ways to save money everyday. Receive a free e-course on saving money at the supermarket! To learn more, visit http://www.cynroberts.com